Wrapping for packaging a product, notably a food product

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a wrapping having a ridge forming a tube, the joining of which to the upper transverse edge forms a leaktight border disposed between two sides of the wrapping. The ridge extends from a first lateral portion of the border to close to one side, the border having a central portion in which a cutout in communication with the packaging space is formed A precut for starting tearing is formed in the ridge and in the lateral portion, extending transversely next to the cutout, the central portion being provided with a removal line positioned in transverse continuation of the precut. The wrapping is designed to allow continuation of the tearing of the precut into the central portion in order to create, through the cutout, an opening for dispensing the packaged product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of International application numberPCT/FR2017/053848, filed Dec. 26, 2017 and French application number1663460, filed Dec. 28, 2016 the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a wrapping for packaging a product, notably afood product.

In particular, it applies to wrappings intended for the packaging of anindividual portion of fluid food product, for example a yoghurt orcompote type dessert, a cordial, a fruit juice or even a milk or coffeedose.

BACKGROUND

Wrappings are known comprising a flexible film the two longitudinaledges of which are joined according to a ridge forming a tube, thetransverse edges of said tube then being joined to delimit a packagingspace of a product.

In order to allow the dispensing of the packaged product, said wrappingsare conventionally arranged to be able to be torn manually, notablyclose to an upper transverse edge.

For this, it is known from document EP-0 312 393 a wrapping formed of atube made of flexible film, the upper transverse edge of which is joinedto form a leaktight border that is disposed between two sides of saidwrapping, said border having a central portion in which a cutout whichis in communication with the packaging space is formed, a precut forstarting tearing being formed in a lateral portion of said borderextending transversely next to said cutout.

Thus, in order to open such a wrapping, a transverse manual traction isexerted on the border at the level of the precut, to tear said borderfrom one side of said wrapping, the tearing continuing up to the cutout,in order to create, through said cutout, an opening for dispensing thepackaged product.

However, for the wrappings provided with a ridge, the opening may bedifficult to achieve or be achieved imperfectly, in that said ridge mayhinder continuation of the tearing.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,997 proposes a wrapping in which the ridgeextends from a lateral portion of the upper border close to one of thesides of the wrapping, a precut for starting tearing being formed in theridge and in the lateral portion extending transversely next to thecutout.

Thus, the fact of offsetting the ridge close to one side of the wrappingand forming a precut for starting tearing both in said ridge and in thelateral portion of the border makes it possible to prevent the ridgefrom resisting continuation of the tearing of the border up to thecutout, and therefore to make the opening of the wrapping reliable.

However, this solution does not provide entire satisfaction, in that itdoes not make it possible to guarantee a controlled tearing of theleaktight border, yet necessary for the formation of an opening suitablefor correct dispensing of the product.

Indeed, wrappings for food products are generally produced from aflexible film having a layered structure which is arranged to ensure themechanical resistance of the wrapping before the opening thereof as wellas the preservation of the packaged product. Yet, such a structure maybe difficult to tear manually, due to the thickness thereof and due tothe materials that constitute same, and this all the more so in relationto the small dimension of the border of an individual wrapping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to perfect the prior art by proposing notably awrapping arranged for making the easy and controlled tearing of theupper border thereof possible, in order to make it possible to create anopening optimised for better dispensing of the product packaged in thewrapping.

To this end, the invention proposes a wrapping for the packaging of aproduct, notably a food product, the wrapping comprising a flexible filmthe two longitudinal edges of which are joined according to a ridgeforming a tube, the transverse edges of which are joined to delimit apackaging space, the joining of the upper transverse edge forming aleaktight border disposed between two sides of the wrapping, the ridgeextending from a first lateral portion of the border close to one of thesides, the border having a central portion in which a cutout which is incommunication with the packaging space is formed, a precut for startingtearing being formed in the ridge and in the first lateral portionextending transversely next to the cutout, the central portion of theborder being provided with a removal line which is positioned intransverse continuation of the precut, the removal line being designedto allow continuation of the tearing of the precut into the centralportion in order to create, through the cutout, an opening fordispensing the packaged product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other specific features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent in the following description, made in reference to the FIGUREappended showing schematically in front view an upper portion of awrapping according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In relation to this FIGURE, a wrapping for the packaging of a product,notably a food product, is described below, the wrapping comprising aflexible film.

In particular, the wrapping is intended for the packaging of anindividual portion of fluid food product, for example a yoghurt orcompote type dessert, a cordial, a fruit juice or even a milk or coffeedose.

Advantageously, the flexible film has a layered structure that comprisesat least one outer layer and one inner layer, the respective thicknessesand/or materials of the layers being chosen for the respective functionthereof.

In particular, the outer layer may give the mechanical resistance to thewrapping, the inner layer making the closing thereof possible, notablyby welding, but also a good preservation of the product packaged in thewrapping whilst limiting the risks of impairment of the product bycontact with the inner layer.

In particular, in the case of a food product having to be kept in therefrigerator before the consumption thereof, the layered structure maybe arranged for guaranteeing for the product packaged in the wrapping ause-by date (UBD) of at least forty days.

According to one embodiment, the flexible film may comprise an outerlayer based on metallised polyterephtalate ethylene (PET), for examplewith an aluminium foil, and an inner layer based on polyethylene (PE).

According to the needs, the flexible film may optionally comprise atleast one additional layer, notably chosen from a barrier layer based onethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), which notably makes it possible toimprove the permeability of the film, and/or a layer of polyethylene(PE).

In order to form the wrapping, the two longitudinal edges of theflexible film are joined according to a ridge 1, forming a tube thetransverse edges of which are then joined to delimit a packaging space 2of a portion, notably individual, of product. In particular, the ridge 1is formed by overlap of the longitudinal edges of the film over areduced width, for example over a transverse dimension d₁ in the orderof 4 to 5 mm, then leaktight joining of the overlap.

In relation to the FIGURE, the joining of the upper transverse edge 3forms a leaktight border 4 disposed between two sides 5 a, 5 b of thewrapping. In particular, for a wrapping intended for the packaging of anindividual portion of food product, the upper border 4 extends betweenthe two sides 5 a, 5 b, for example over a transverse dimension D ofapproximately 32 mm.

Moreover, the border 4 has a longitudinal dimension which is sufficientfor guaranteeing the mechanical resistance of the closing of thewrapping, notably relatively to the sealing thereof under compression ofthe packaging space 2, for example in the order of 20 to 30 mm.Furthermore, a similar border may be formed at the level of the joiningof the lower transversal edge of the tube.

The ridge 1, the upper border 4 and/or the possible lower border maynotably be formed by welding of the flexible film.

The upper border 4 has a central portion 4 a in which a cutout 6 whichis in communication with the packaging space 2 is formed, the cutoutbeing arranged to allow the creation through same of an opening fordispensing the product packaged into the space 2 after opening of thewrapping. In particular, the central portion 4 a is bordered on eitherside by a lateral portion 4 c, 4 b of the upper border 4.

Advantageously, the cutout 6 as well as the central portion 4 a has atransverse dimension d_(4a) of approximately 8 mm, the cutout beingcentred between the sides 5 a, 5 b of the wrapping. The geometry of thecutout 6 is arranged to be able to form a sufficiently wide dispensingopening for providing correct dispensing of the packaged product, andthis all the more if the product has a high viscosity, for example ifthis concerns a yoghurt or compote type refrigerated dessert, a cordialor a fruit juice.

In relation to the FIGURE, the central portion 4 a has an unjoinedportion 7 forming the cutout 6, as well as a joined portion 8 disposedbetween the upper transverse edge 3 and the cutout 6, the dimension ofthe joined portion being arranged to maintain the sealing of the border4 before the opening thereof.

The border 4 comprises a first joined lateral portion 4 b which isdisposed close to one side 5 a of the wrapping, the first lateralportion extending from the adjacent side up to the cutout 6 andcontinuing by the joined portion 8.

In the embodiment shown, the border 4 comprises a second joined lateralportion 4 c which extends from the cutout 6 up to the side 5 b of thewrapping opposite the first lateral portion 4 b, which makes it possibleto obtain a cutout 6 centred in the border 4, notably by providing twolateral portions 4 b, 4 c of similar transverse dimension d_(4b),d_(4c). Furthermore, the upper transverse edge 3 of the border 4 has anupper area which is continuously joined between the edges 5 a, 5 b ofthe wrapping, the cutout 6 being formed under the upper area.

In particular, for a wrapping intended for the packaging of anindividual portion of product, the lateral portions 4 b, 4 c may eachhave a transverse dimension d_(4b), d_(4c) of approximately 12 mm,insofar as the total transverse dimension D of the upper border 4 isapproximately 32 mm and the transverse dimension d_(4a) of the cutoutapproximately 8 mm.

As an alternative not shown, the border 4 may comprise only the firstlateral portion 4 b, the cutout 6 therefore extending from the singlelateral portion up to the side 4 b of the wrapping opposite the singlelateral portion.

In order to facilitate the opening of the wrapping, the ridge 1 extendsfrom a first lateral portion 4 b close to one of the sides 5 a of thewrapping, a precut 9 a for starting tearing being formed in the ridge 1and in the first lateral portion extending transversely next to thecutout.

The fact of offsetting the ridge 1 close to one side 5 a of the wrappingand forming a precut 9 a for starting tearing both in the ridge and inthe adjacent lateral portion 4 b of the border 4 makes it possible toprevent the ridge, due to the thickness thereof due to the layering oflongitudinal edges of the flexible film and to the possible layeredstructure of the film, from resisting continuation of the tearing of theborder.

In particular, the precut 9 a for starting tearing may extendsubstantially over the entire transverse dimension d₁ of the ridge 1,which makes it possible to totally eliminate the obstacle tocontinuation of the tearing formed by the ridge.

In relation to the FIGURE, the ridge 1 comprises a folding line 10connecting the ridge to the first lateral portion 4 b by delimitingouter 11 a and inner areas 11 b of the lateral portion that extendrespectively from the folding line up to the adjacent side 5 a of thewrapping and from the folding line up to the cutout 6.

In particular, the offset of the ridge 1 is such that the transversedimension d_(11a) of the outer area 11 a is in the order of magnitude ofthe transverse dimension d_(11b) of the inner area 11 b, for examplebeing slightly larger than same in the FIGURE.

The precut 9 a for starting tearing extends substantially over theentire transverse dimension d_(11a) of the outer area 11 a, thus theuser may jointly grasp the outer area and the ridge 1 to open thewrapping. Moreover, the precut 9 a may also extend into a portion of theinner area 11 b, in particular not up to the cutout 6 to make thesealing of the border 4 reliable before the opening thereof.

In the embodiment shown, the wrapping comprises a second precut 9 b forstarting tearing formed in the second lateral portion 4 c, notably beingtransversely aligned with the first precut 9 a for starting tearing.

In particular, the embodiment makes it possible for the consumer to:

-   -   continue the tearing of the wrapping up to the second precut in        order to be able to easily remove the entire upper border before        consuming the product, in the manner of a cap; and/or;    -   be able to start tearing of the border 4 by the second precut in        the event of difficulty of opening from the first precut.

The precuts 9 a, 9 b may be formed mechanically, notably by means of asuitable cutting tool, the tool may in particular be integrated on theproduction line of the wrapping at the level of the unit for joining theupper edge 3, in order to be able to produce the precuts 9 a, 9 b at thetime of the joining.

In particular, the ridge 1 may have a transverse dimension d₁ of between4 mm and 5 mm, with a positioning accuracy in the order of 1 mm, inorder to make the production of the first precut 9 a possiblesimultaneously in the ridge and in the first lateral portion 4 b.

In order to prevent the precuts 9 a, 9 b from impairing the sealing ofthe border 4, the lateral portions 4 b, 4 c each have an area 12 b, 12 cdevoid of the corresponding precut 9 a, 9 b which is disposed close tothe cutout 6.

In particular, such an area 12 b, 12 c may extend over a transversedimension d_(12b), d_(12c) of at least 5 mm for guaranteeing sealing atthe level of the cutout 6, which makes it possible, when the joinedlateral portions 4 b, 4 c have a transverse dimension of 12 mm, toproduce a precut 9 a, 9 b over a transverse dimension d_(9a), d_(9b) ofat most 7 mm.

As regards the first lateral portion 4 b, the area 12 b devoid of precutis formed on the inner area 11 b. Furthermore, according to thepositioning of the ridge 1, it is possible to offset the central portion4 a, and therefore the cutout 6, by a few millimetres, in order to beable to produce a precut 9 a of sufficiently large transverse dimensionfor providing correct tearing of the border 4 whilst keeping asufficient transverse dimension d_(12b) for the area not precut.

The central portion 4 a of the border 4 is further provided with aremoval line 13 which is positioned in transverse continuation of thefirst precut 9 a, the removal line being designed to allow continuationof the tearing of the precut into the central portion in order tocreate, through the cutout 6, an opening for dispensing the packagedproduct.

In particular, the second precut 9 b extends transversely incontinuation of the removal line 13, also in order to allow, ifapplicable, continuation of the tearing into or from the second precut.

Thus, the presence of such a removal line 13 allows controlled tearingof the wrapping, notably at the level of the central portion 4 a inwhich the cutout 6 is formed, for the creation of an opening optimisedfor better dispensing of the packaged product, and this regardless ofthe thickness and/or the structure of the flexible film.

Advantageously, the removal line 13 may be formed by application of alaser beam on the flexible film, the beam being adjusted, notably interms of power, in order to make it possible to remove a portion of thethickness of the material of the film in order to form a weakened linealong which tearing may be continued. In particular, the removal is notcarried out over the entire thickness of the film to avoid beingdetrimental to the sealing thereof, notably at the level of the cutout6. Alternatively, the removal line 13 may be formed by application ofmechanical means on the flexible film, notably by punching.

In the case of a flexible film with a layered structure, the removalline 13 may be formed only in at least one portion of the thickness ofthe outer layer, in order to protect the sealing of the cutout 6 beforeopening of the wrapping.

The removal line 13 may have a discontinued pattern, for example in theform of dashes 13 a, as shown in the FIGURE, or in the form of dottedlines. Alternatively, the removal line 13 may have a continuous pattern.

Advantageously, the removal line 13 extends into the cutout 6, notablysubstantially over the entire transverse dimension d_(4a) of the cutout.In particular, the removal line 13 extends into at least one area 12 a,12 b devoid of precut of the joined lateral portions 4 b, 4 c, in orderto come in transverse continuation of the precuts 9 a, 9 b.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrapping for the packaging of a product, thewrapping comprising a flexible film the two longitudinal edges of whichare joined according to a ridge forming a tube, the transverse edges ofwhich are joined to delimit a packaging space, the joining of the uppertransverse edge forming a leaktight border disposed between two sides ofthe wrapping, the ridge extending from a first lateral portion of theborder close to one of the sides, the border having a central portion inwhich a cutout which is in communication with the packaging space isformed, a precut for starting tearing being formed in the ridge and inthe first lateral portion extending transversely to the cutout, thewrapping wherein the central portion of the border is provided with aremoval line which is positioned in transverse continuation of theprecut, the removal line being designed to allow continuation of thetearing of the precut into the central portion in order to create,through the cutout, an opening for dispensing the packaged product. 2.The wrapping according to claim 1, wherein the precut extendssubstantially over the entire transverse dimension of the ridge.
 3. Thewrapping according to claim 2, wherein the ridge comprises a foldingline connecting the ridge to the first lateral portion by delimitingouter and inner areas of the lateral portion that extend respectivelyfrom the folding line up to the adjacent side of the wrapping and fromthe folding line up to the cutout.
 4. The wrapping according to claim 3,wherein the precut extends substantially over the entire transversedimension of the outer area.
 5. The wrapping according to claim 4,wherein the precut extends transversely into a portion of the innerarea.
 6. The wrapping according to claim 1, wherein the first lateralportion extends from the adjacent side up to the cutout.
 7. The wrappingaccording to claim 1, wherein the border has a second lateral portionthat extends from the cutout up to the side of the wrapping that isopposite the first lateral portion.
 8. The wrapping according to claim7, wherein it comprises a second precut formed in the second lateralportion extending transversely in the continuation of the removal line.9. The wrapping according to claim 1, wherein the central portion has ajoined portion disposed between the upper transverse edge and thecutout.
 10. The wrapping according to claim 1, wherein the removal lineextends into the cutout substantially over the entire transversedimension of the cutout.
 11. The wrapping according to claim 10, whereinthe first lateral portion has an area devoid of the precut which isdisposed close to the cutout.
 12. The wrapping according to claim 11,wherein the removal line extends over at least one area to come intotransverse continuation of the precut.
 13. The wrapping according toclaim 1, wherein the removal line is formed by application of a laserbeam or mechanical means on the flexible film.
 14. The wrappingaccording to claim 1, wherein the removal line has a discontinuedpattern.
 15. The wrapping according to claim 1, wherein the ridge isformed by welding of the flexible film.
 16. The wrapping according toclaim 1, wherein the flexible film comprises a layered structure havingat least one outer layer and one inner layer.
 17. The wrapping accordingto claim 16, wherein the removal line is formed only in at least oneportion of the thickness of the outer layer.
 18. The wrapping accordingto claim 16, wherein the outer layer is based on metallised polyethyleneterephthalate (PET).
 19. The wrapping according to claim 16, wherein theinner layer is based on polyethylene (PE).